My wife and I are members and have been married in the LDS temple. However, we have a slight dispute regarding claiming or reporting her tithing and fast offerings contributions on our tax returns for 2007. She feels that 10% was given to the church and should not be filled on our tax returns and if we do, we will receive less blessings. I truly don’t feel that way and also a former Bishop and Stake President also feels their is nothing wrong to claim it on our tax reuturns. Therefoere, I need strong back-up from our leaders if it’s okay to claim it on our tax returns. Also, do our top leaders (prophets) do it too, if so, why shouldn’t we do it too. I need some help to covience my wife that their is nothing wrong with filling it on our taxes and not just that, but the church acknowledges that if it help our family, then best to do it. Please let me know ASAP.
5 Responses to “My wife and I are members and have been married in the LDS t…”
Leonardo Castro
2008-05-11 23:55:46
Hi friend. I'm no tax expert, but I have never known of anyone that did not declare their tithing for tax purposes. I always assumed that the reason the church provides a written summary of tithing paid every year was so its members could declare it on their tax forms.
I can understand where your wife is coming from. God has said that a secret prayer is better than a prayer said in public to impress the world (Matt. 6:6). By similar logic, one could argue that declaring tithing is akin to making it public. I would say that if we went around boastfully telling our neighbors how much tithing we pay, God might be forced to withhold blessings. Including tithing on our tax forms, however, is still very private and is not boastful in any way.
God is eager to bless us for our humility and obedience. He's looking for reasons to bless us, not reasons to withhold blessings. I'm confidant God doesn't mind if we include tithing on our tax forms.
In case your wife doesn't believe some random Joe like me running a Mormon website (understandable!), she might be interested in reading the following Church publications, which specifically mention including tithing (or fast offerings) as a tax deduction:
I am the ward clerk in my ward and every year I give the chruch tax receipts to the members who want to claim back and I have this question asked many times. And this my personal answer.
If you feel that the 10 % belongs to the Lord, do not claim it, just do your taxes without including it.
If you claim in your tax return the 10 % and charities given to church, there is nothing wrong in doing it, after all if the church give you a tax receipt it is with a purpose.
And do not forget that you have to pay the 10 % of your tax return if you get money back, with or without the tithing claim.
Do not forget that we have the free agency to take decisions and these decisions should not affect the relationship between husband and wife. If one wants to claim and the other not, just be respectful of each other.
Webmaster: Good to get an answer from somewhat who's more qualified to answer than I am! Thanks!
Anonymous
2008-05-25 23:20:28
I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with Julian. If you claim the 10% that you gave to the church, I think it is important to remember these two points:
The church claims tax exempt status, because they are allowed to do so by law. When we pay 10% it is considered tax deductible and the fact is we will not always get all of it back, but we can if we want and the Lord doesn't look down on it. If you feel differently, then you don't have to claim it on your taxes, but I think these things are left to the individual to decide on their own.
Also, if you pay 10% to the church, you pay on your gross pay and not your net pay. So if you receive money back from your tax return, you do not have to pay 10% on it; you've already paid on this money and you don't have to pay twice.
Rmarshan
2008-05-18 22:31:41
If the church thinks that it is wrong to claim the tithing, why would they go through all that trouble of giving us a tithe receipt for taxes purpose at the end of the year?
I really don't understand your wife's concern because paying tithing as the same than giving money for charity so you can include that on you taxes return. So if you claim that 10% the irs is not going to bother to tax it because it was for charity. And if she believes that the 10% is not ours so why claim something that is not ours anyway?
I thought you could point that out to your wife.
Jason
2008-05-25 23:29:50
Hello,
Maybe your question has already been answered but just in case here goes. Your making it more complex than it is. First of all you have to contribute a certain amount for it even to be worth filing. Anyways, reporting charitable contributions only applies to those who are itemizing. Remember too, the Lord did say he would give us a blessing that there wouldnt be room to receive it. So if you contributed enough to even report it. Do it and be blessed.
I can understand where your wife is coming from. God has said that a secret prayer is better than a prayer said in public to impress the world (Matt. 6:6). By similar logic, one could argue that declaring tithing is akin to making it public. I would say that if we went around boastfully telling our neighbors how much tithing we pay, God might be forced to withhold blessings. Including tithing on our tax forms, however, is still very private and is not boastful in any way.
God is eager to bless us for our humility and obedience. He's looking for reasons to bless us, not reasons to withhold blessings. I'm confidant God doesn't mind if we include tithing on our tax forms.
In case your wife doesn't believe some random Joe like me running a Mormon website (understandable!), she might be interested in reading the following Church publications, which specifically mention including tithing (or fast offerings) as a tax deduction:
The Saints in Scandinavia
The Law of the Fast
Hope this helps to put your wife's mind at ease.
I am the ward clerk in my ward and every year I give the chruch tax receipts to the members who want to claim back and I have this question asked many times. And this my personal answer.
If you feel that the 10 % belongs to the Lord, do not claim it, just do your taxes without including it.
If you claim in your tax return the 10 % and charities given to church, there is nothing wrong in doing it, after all if the church give you a tax receipt it is with a purpose.
And do not forget that you have to pay the 10 % of your tax return if you get money back, with or without the tithing claim.
Do not forget that we have the free agency to take decisions and these decisions should not affect the relationship between husband and wife. If one wants to claim and the other not, just be respectful of each other.
Webmaster: Good to get an answer from somewhat who's more qualified to answer than I am! Thanks!
The church claims tax exempt status, because they are allowed to do so by law. When we pay 10% it is considered tax deductible and the fact is we will not always get all of it back, but we can if we want and the Lord doesn't look down on it. If you feel differently, then you don't have to claim it on your taxes, but I think these things are left to the individual to decide on their own.
Also, if you pay 10% to the church, you pay on your gross pay and not your net pay. So if you receive money back from your tax return, you do not have to pay 10% on it; you've already paid on this money and you don't have to pay twice.
I really don't understand your wife's concern because paying tithing as the same than giving money for charity so you can include that on you taxes return. So if you claim that 10% the irs is not going to bother to tax it because it was for charity. And if she believes that the 10% is not ours so why claim something that is not ours anyway?
I thought you could point that out to your wife.
Maybe your question has already been answered but just in case here goes. Your making it more complex than it is. First of all you have to contribute a certain amount for it even to be worth filing. Anyways, reporting charitable contributions only applies to those who are itemizing. Remember too, the Lord did say he would give us a blessing that there wouldnt be room to receive it. So if you contributed enough to even report it. Do it and be blessed.